After debuting at CinemaCon last week, Warner Bros./Legendary Entertainment’s trailer for Dune: Part Two has now been released for all to enjoy. The first Dune, directed by Denis Villeneuve, who returns for the sequel, was released day-and-date on HBO Max thanks to the pandemic. It still managed to make $108.3M domestic and $402M worldwide, making it one of WB’s top movies of 2021. It won six Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Picture, although it didn’t win that honor. So anticipation is high for this follow-up.
Castmembers Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Dave Bautista (Glossu Rabban), Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Vladimir Harkonnen), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Javier Bardem (Stilgar), and Charlotte Rampling (Reverend Mother Mohiam) return, with newcomers Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen), Léa Seydoux (Lady Margot), Christopher Walken (Emperor Shaddam IV), and Tim Blake Nelson (in an undisclosed role) joining in.
The film is summarized as:
The sequel explores the journey of Paul Atreides (Chalamet) as he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
According to Villeneuve:
“Part One is more of a contemplative movie. Part Two is an action-packed, epic war movie. It is much more dense. We went to all-new locations. I didn’t want a feeling of repetition. It’s all new sets. Everything is new.”
You can watch the trailer yourself below. Spoiler alert! There’s more sand!
Dune walks the fine line between classic science fiction and drama. The first movie received excellent reviews and audience scores. However, perhaps the biggest critique was that it was a bit slow. Villeneuve’s assurance that Part Two is more action-packed could make this a bigger crowdpleaser. It may draw some that weren’t interested in the first.
Dune: Part Two opens on November 3, 2023.
